Moran's name will appear on the top row of the ballot along with four endorsed candidates for the police commission: incumbent Ray Dobratz, Richard Metsack, Robert Kiehm and Emilio Scamporino.

Thomas' name is on the second ballot line as a petitioning candidate as is her brother's, Sylvester Thomas, who is running for one of the four positions open this November on the police commission.

Voting will be 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the middle and high schools.

CLINTON

Democrats Open

Local Headquarters

CLINTON -- The Democratic town committee is celebrating the opening of its 2005 headquarters Thursday with a chance to meet this year's candidates.

The event will take place at 25 E. Main St., next to Coffee Break, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. There will be refreshments and a chance to meet candidates Willie Fritz, Dolly Mezzetti and Ed Hidek, who are running for the board of selectmen.

CHESTER

Day To Celebrate

Constitution Signing

CHESTER -- The town will hold its annual Citizenship Day on Saturday, marking the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution at Independence Hall in 1787.

First Selectman Martin L. Heft is asking all residents and businesses to decorate their buildings with red, white and blue to display their patriotic support.

``Chester will be a showcase celebrating America,'' Heft said.

OLD SAYBROOK

Town Makes Progress

In Acquiring Road

OLD SAYBROOK -- The town is acquiring the private road dotted with deep potholes and broken pavement that's long been neglected by its owner, the estate of Charles Marland, who died six years ago.

The roadway off Elm Street leading to Research Parkway has been taxed as vacant land for five years with back taxes totaling $17,600.

The town has long wanted the road so it can be repaired and used for adjacent businesses and for those who use it as a shortcut from Elm Street to Route 154. The town also wants to reconfigure the entrance from Elm to make better sight lines.

The town and estate were unable to reach an agreement on the transfer of the road, but recently a deal was struck with estate attorneys, selectmen learned at a meeting this week.

The estate has agreed to pay the back taxes plus $5,000 to the town and hand over ownership of the road, providing the estate's beneficiaries, other town commissions and town meeting vote approve the deal.

OLD SAYBROOK

Three Students Are

Merit Semifinalists

OLD SAYBROOK -- For the first time, the high school has three National Merit Scholarship semifinalists -- Seth Pearson, William Bruno and Matthew Strand.

``It shows that our very intense curriculum is paying off because if these students hadn't been exposed to it, they wouldn't have done so well,'' said Superintendent Sal Pascarella.

High school Principal Scott Schoonmaker pointed out the only high schools in the state with more semifinalists are either private schools or larger schools in towns with high socio-economic profiles such as Avon, Greenwich, Ridgefield, Westport and Simsbury.

OLD SAYBROOK

Selectmen Accept

North Cove Easement

OLD SAYBROOK -- Selectmen this week took the first steps to accept an easement over the edge of the North Cove Crossing condominium land at the end of Coulter Street.

The long strip of land owned by David Peckham, developer of the condos, borders town land that will become a park overlooking the cove. The town wants to eventually turn the strip into a walking and bicycle path that could one day extend through other private property and out to Route 154 near the intersection with Main Street.

The planning commission must also approve acceptance of the easement, which was part of the deal struck with Peckham when he gained permission for the condo project.

DURHAM

School Schedules

Scarecrow Contest

DURHAM -- The Independent Day School of Middlefield is sponsoring the third annual Scarecrow Competition on the grounds of Durham Public Library from Oct. 15 through 30.

Members of the IDS seventh-grade class are coordinating the project as their annual community service project.

Individuals, families, clubs and businesses are invited to enter a scarecrow in the competition. The scarecrows may be designed around a theme or simply a traditional New England scarecrow.

All displays will be judged at the end of the event to establish an overall winner. There will be voting periods during display times for visitors to vote on the scarecrows.

Voting is done by placing money in cans fronting the exhibits. For the third year, the collected money will be divided between the Durham and Middlefield food banks. The two displays that raise the most money for charity also will win a prize.

The seventh-grade class at IDS has been able to donate $1,100 to the food banks in the two towns in the past two years.

Applications and rules for the competition can be obtained by calling IDS at 860-347-7235.